Lycopodiella inundata
Inundated bog club-moss, Inundated Bog Club-Moss
(c) Oleksii Vasyliuk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lycopodiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Lycopodiella inundata (Inundated bog club-moss) is a native California subshrub in the Lycopodiaceae family, recognized by Circumboreal species extremely rare in California; represents ancient plant lineage with specialized bog habitat requirements.
Inundated bog club-moss is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native moss found in northern coastal areas of Humboldt County and northern Sierra Nevada foothills in Nevada County, inhabiting peat bogs, muddy depressions, and pond margins at elevations from near sea level to 1,000 meters. As a diminutive club-moss, it spreads with slender stems typically 5 to 15 centimeters long and about one centimeter wide, creating delicate ground-covering patches in wet habitats. Growing with both sterile and fertile stems, it develops thin, narrow leaves approximately 3 to 8 millimeters long that subtend small reproductive cones. Its compact stems feature distinctive vertical growth with leaves closely arranged, creating a miniature forest-like structure in bog environments. Reproductive cones are slender, measuring 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and approximately 8 to 10 millimeters wide, helping the moss reproduce in its specialized wetland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Circumboreal species extremely rare in California; represents ancient plant lineage with specialized bog habitat requirements
Habitat and range
Habitat: Peat bogs, muddy depressions, pond margins
Elevation: < 50 m (NCo), +- 1000 m (n SNH)
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Lycopodium: Lycopodiella has single cones on unbranched stalks; running-pine has multiple cones on branched, candelabra-like stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lycopodiella inundata native to California?
Yes. Lycopodiella inundata is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Lycopodiella inundata belong to?
Lycopodiella inundata is in the Lycopodiaceae family, genus Lycopodiella.
Is Lycopodiella inundata rare or endangered?
Lycopodiella inundata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Lycopodiella inundata grow in?
Lycopodiella inundata grows in Peat bogs, muddy depressions, pond margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.